The group of professors looked like something out of a Muggle comedy, heads peeping around the corner of the Great Hall's entrance. Rolanda looked to the women on the side of her, Pomona, Poppy, and Minerva, laughing to herself. "I can't believe Albus is allowing this dunderhead to teach dueling," she said. "I wasn't going to miss it for the world. And…it looks like none of you were either."

"I can't believe you were able to get Severus to do it with him," Pomona laughed.

"I have my ways," Minerva smiled, winking to Rolanda.

Rolanda jabbed her. "That's what I like to see, Min."

Minerva laughed. She looked more at ease than she had in the last few weeks. The opening of the Chamber of Secrets had put a great deal of stress on them all, especially Minerva. Her eyes twinkled a bit as she watched her lover walk up to meet Gilderoy. "Believe me, I'll suffer for it."

"Who do you think is going to fire first?" Poppy asked.

"Severus, of course," Minerva said with a hint of pride in her voice. Rolanda chuckled at Minerva's confidence in her lover. "Please! You think he's going to let Gilderoy make an idiot out of him?"

"I guess I'm going to be treating Gilderoy for broken bones,"

"Maybe let him fix it himself," Minerva smirked. "He did such a good job with Harry's."

Rolanda nodded. "I'd love to watch him walking around with his limbs flapping about for a few days."

"And if the mediwitch pledge would allow me to do that in good conscious, believe me, I would," Poppy replied.

"Expelliarmus!" came Severus's voice, loud and clear as the women watched, with the same joy as the children, as Gildeory went flying backwards across the platform.

Much to their dissatisfaction, Gilderoy stood right up, brushing himself off with the same smugness he always had. As the two debated how to approach the lessons, Severus had the hint of a smile on his face, looking like he had something else up his sleeve. "I have to admit," Pomona said beside them. "I wish I had been chosen to fire spells at him. If I could get my hands on him, Merlin…"

"At least we know he's harmless," Rolanda shrugged.

"Useless," Minerva huffed. Having been caught up in their conversation, Rolanda turned her attention back to the dueling club, seeing Severus grab Draco and push him onto the platform across from Harry who now stood there as well. That was a recipe for disaster. "I could kill him," Minerva said angrily. "Putting those two against one another; I mean really!"

"I got far too much satisfaction out of the Mandrake biting him in my class," Pomona chuckled.

"Potter?"

"Of course not!" Pomona replied. "Malfoy!"

"When Severus told me that Malfoy was joining the Quidditch team, I almost choked him," Rolanda added, despising the young boy as much as the rest. "No offense, Min."

"Oh, none taken!" Minerva agreed. "Please, I don't understand why Severus continues to look after him. It's the only thing from…before…he can't seem to let go. The boy and his family are horrid. Of course, Severus can't stand Lucius, but Draco, he is protective over."

As Draco and Harry stood across from each other, Rolanda sighed in disappointment. "I was hoping to see more of Severus and Gilderoy." She began walking away, not in the mood to watch students duel each other.

The rest of the women followed close behind, making their way into the staff room. It wasn't until later, when Severus came bursting in the staff room, that she wished she'd stayed. Apparently, Draco had set a snake on Harry who had then spoken to him in Parsletongue. The entire situation sounded both exciting and worrisome. Minerva looked concerned the entire time Severus was describing what happened. "And, of course, Lockhart just stood there like a moron while I got rid of the snake," Severus said as he paced in front of them.

"How was Harry?"

"Admittedly, he looked extremely confused. It was like he didn't even realize he was speaking it."

"Harry didn't open the chamber!" Minerva insisted.

Severus raised an eyebrow. "That dunderhead isn't smart enough to open it. I don't know who did, but it certainly wasn't one of your golden trio."

Minerva rolled her eyes. "At least we can agree there."

"Merlin, we left right before things got bad," Rolanda commented more to herself than aloud.

"Left?"

"The dueling club!" Pomona added.

Severus looked confused. "You all were there?" Minerva's face was red, and a smile was forming at the corner of her mouth. Had she not told Severus they were all showing up to watch? "Min?"

Minerva took a sip of the tea she had on the table beside her. She was laughing behind the cup, holding it to her mouth. "And if we were?"

"Part of the deal was you kept your nose out of it," he said, sounding slightly angry, but his face showed he was amused. "I agreed to do it if you and the girls club here didn't involve yourselves because you said you were so overwhelmed with the work Albus was giving you in handling the petrified students."

"Severus," Poppy cut in. "Minerva is overwhelmed. We all are. Why, Pomona with the Mandrakes, me with the students in the hospital wing, and Rolanda with…well…"

"Keeping their heads on straight!" Rolanda exclaimed, amused by Poppy's playfulness. The time in the hospital wing must have had her bored. It was extremely out of character for the mediwitch.

By this point, Minerva was keeled over with silent laughter, Severus now taking a seat beside her. He touched Minerva's shoulder and guided her to sit up. "You broke the deal."

To Rolanda's surprise, Minerva grabbed Severus and kissed him right on the mouth. "Sorry," she muttered. Severus had clearly enjoyed the kiss as his hands reached for her. But, Minerva stood from her place. "I'm off to meet with Albus," she said. "Since, as you pointed out, I am so busy." Laughing as she went, Minerva was out the door.

Left with Severus and the other girls, Rolanda started laughing. "You're fucked," she said to Severus.

"I had a feeling she'd do this," Severus smirked. "I'm prepared."